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Greece seeks criminal charges for 9 far-right MPs

The Associated Press

Updated:
02/20/2014 06:44:10 AM EST

ATHENS, Greece—Greek judges have asked Parliament to allow the prosecution of another nine lawmakers from the Nazi-inspired Golden Dawn party, which is being investigated for alleged criminal activities.

Approval of the request would mean that all 18 of the party's lawmakers face charges of running a criminal group. Greek Parliamentarians enjoy immunity from prosecution, which can only be lifted by a parliamentary vote.

So far, nine Golden Dawn MPs have been prosecuted, six of whom—including leader Nikos Mihaloliakos—were jailed pending trial. Prosecutors are waiting for the parliamentary vote so they could proceed against the other nine.

The crackdown on the extreme right-wing party started after last year's fatal stabbing of an anti-fascist musician by a Golden Dawn supporter in Athens.